A new and distinct cultivar of Xerochrysum plant named `Ohdrejumwhi` characterized by its white-colored involucral bracts and yellow-orange-colored disc florets, dark green-colored foliage, good basal branching character, and upright growth habit.

Claim:

What is claimed is:

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Xerochrysum plant named `Ohdrejumwhi`, substantially as herein shown and described.

Description:

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Xerochrysum bracteatum (previously Bracteantha bracteata).

Variety denomination: `Ohdrejumwhi`.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Xerochrysum plant botanically known as Xerochrysum bracteatum and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name `Ohdrejumwhi`.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Winmalee, Australia during 2002. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Xerochrysum cultivars with attractive flower colors and vigorous upright growth habit.

The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar was the proprietary Xerochrysum bracteatum breeding selection designated 02-7, not patented, characterized by its white-colored involucral bracts, dark green-colored foliage, and medium compact growthhabit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar was `OHB003790`, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,629, characterized by its yellow-colored involucral bracts, medium to dark green-colored foliage, and compact upright growth habit. The new Xerochrysum wasdiscovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during February 2003 in a controlled environment at Winmalee, Australia.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since February 2003 at Winmalee, Australia and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all characteristics, as herein described,firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish `Ohdrejumwhi` as a new and distinct cultivar of Xerochrysum plant: 1. White-colored involucral bracts and yellow-orange-colored discflorets; 2. Dark green-colored foliage; 3. Good basal branching character; and 4. Upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in growth habit and from plants of the male parent primarily in flower color and growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Xerochrysum cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is the male parent `OHB003790`, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,629. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of thenew cultivar differ from plants of `OHB003790` in the following characteristics: 1. Plants of the new cultivar have more involucral bracts than plants of `OHB003790`; 2. Plants of the new cultivar have more disc florets than plants of `OHB003790`; and3. Plants of the new cultivar have a different involucral bract color from plants of `OHB003790`.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly fromthe color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of `Ohdrejumwhi`. The plants were grown in 10 cm pots for 9 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of `Ohdrejumwhi`.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of a single inflorescence of `Ohdrejumwhi` with some open involucral bracts.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up view of a single inflorescence of `Ohdrejumwhi` with most of the involucral bracts open.

FIG. 4 illustrates a close-up view of a single inflorescence of `Ohdrejumwhi` with all involucral bracts and disc florets fully open.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and daylength, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color valueswere determined on Jul. 27, 2005 between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. under natural light conditions, in West Chicago, Ill.